How to Downgrade iTunes 12.7 to iTunes 12.6

Some users may determine that iTunes 12.7 along with the removal of the App Store and other changes are incompatible with their particular workflow. With a little effort, you can downgrade iTunes 12.7 back to iTunes 12.6 on either a Mac OS computer or Windows PC.

You should backup your computer before beginning this process. Failure to backup could result in permanent data loss or data removal. Do not skip backing up your computer before beginning.

This process is basically three parts: deleting iTunes, restoring the old iTunes Library file, and then downloading the older version of iTunes and installing it.

How to Downgrade iTunes 12.7 to 12.6 on Mac

Back up your Mac before beginning the iTunes downgrade process. Do not skip backing up your Mac or else you may lose data, apps, music, media, or general functionality.

Back up the Mac if you haven’t done so already

Quit out of iTunes

Now open the Terminal application in Mac OS, found in /Applications/Utilities/ and type the following exactly, then hit return:

cd /Applications/

Now you’ll be in the Applications folder via command line, the next command syntax must be precisely entered to remove iTunes, make sure the syntax is exact:

sudo rm -rf iTunes.app/

Be absolutely certain your syntax reads the same, rm is unforgiving and will delete any file permanently it is pointed at. When certain you are pointing at iTunes.app/ only, hit return and authenticate with an admin password to completely delete iTunes

Now go to the Finder of Mac OS and visit your user ~/Music/iTunes/ folder and locate the file named “iTunes Library.itl” and move it to the Desktop, or another easily found location

Still in ~/Music/iTunes/, now open the folder titled “Previous iTunes Libraries” and find the most recent dated iTunes Library file (these are labeled as whatever date you installed the latest iTunes, for example “iTunes Library 2017-09-12.itl” or similar) and make a copy of that file

Drag the copy of “iTunes Library 2017-09-12.itl” to the ~/Music/iTunes/ folder and rename it to “iTunes Library.itl”

It’s important to not skip the ‘iTunes Library.itl’ file process because if you do not restore the previous iTunes Library file you will get an error message stating “iTunes Library.itl cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes”. Typically you can override those error messages by rebuilding an iTunes library, but if you can avoid that you may as well.

Why downgrade??? For the visually impaired, to sort and rearrange and group or ungroup apps using iTunes 12.6.2 was nearly perfect. Now, it’s wiggly little icons that can be hard to see. Thank you, but, that’s one reason why.

One might want synch files outside the apple ecosystem to their device. Guess what, without app access via i-tunes that is impossible. I think MR cook needs to look out for his customers instead of watching the quality of his products slowly go down the crapper. continual terrible decisions coming out of the spaceship. Might be time to consider going to android

For one thing, we don’t all have mobile data to burn or constant access to wifi. You obviously do.

For another, I have a library of apps that’s about 3 times larger than what I have on my phone. With the downgrade I can still keep an eye on all of these easily, on a LARGE screen. I can update ones that I’m not using right now. I can keep old versions of apps in case there’s something problematic with a new version.

You apparently live in a world with infinite data, a phone that can hold everything that you want, and have never ever had an app become non-functional or just downright poorly designed with an upgrade.

“operation not permitted” can’t be bypass for me too. even I try to change iTunes’s public permissions to “read & write” for everyone, it says I don’t have permission. It’s not deleteable. Wish someone find another backdoor for this issue.

ps. I was using High Sierra Beta and I’m using High Sierra now. It didn’t work for both os.

I couldn’t find anyway to bypass this unknown error (-45096). I just wanted to manage my applications manually. After a quick research I found some iTunes alternatives. Some of them is not working but “Syncios” is worked for me. It’s a free app and you can add manually your ipa format apps from “Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Mobile Applications” folder. Hope someone can benefit from this too.

By disabling the SIP method works. However, you need to do a few steps to install back your iTunes 12.6.2.
1. You gotta have a copy of previous iTunes Library.itl from TM;
2. Change the share permission Everyone from custom to read & write;
3. Get a copy of Pacifist 3.5.13;
4. Restore from TM the iTunes Library.itl that was 12.6.2 to ~Music/iTunes;
5. Download the iTunes 12.6.2;
6. Run Pacifist and select iTunes 12.6.2.dmg as the Package to install;
7. Select over write or replace all the files when prompt; and
8. Voila! You will be back to your iTunes 12.6.2
9. Please disable those automatic install apps update option in your AppStore.

P/S: using the sudo rm -rf iTunes.app/ and installing the iTunes 12.6.2 will still get an error -45096.

You have read my mind. When i openened itunes after the update a deep sigh and i remembered how i felt in my microsoft days, loooong way back.
It may also usefull to stop the ituneshelper in startup items before performing this operation.

Thank you very much!

ps: for people who have a time machine working (backup) . This discussion on apple might be very usefull.

Try dragging iTunes.app into the Trash and you will see that Mac OS now restricts that from occurring, suggesting it is a critical component of Mac OS System software. This is why you must use the Terminal or something like AppCleaner to delete iTunes.

Well… Some people with JB iOS devices and a large collection of craked apps can visualize and manage these apps (.ipa files) with iTunes. Icons to locate faster these apps, informations like versions… I think that it’s easier than using finder’s folders.

I am a nonuser of ITUNES. I could barely navigate it under the old version. I am completely baffled by this new version. Why would Apple change an App like ITUNES to something that is less user-friendly?

Approximately two years ago I was running a back level 10.4.11; the thing worked, no bugs and I never had to reboot the thing. One time I left it running for two months while I was not at home. 10.4.11 worked all that time no human intervention, all it did was get an email.

Now I am at 10.12.6, and I have found so many bugs in Apple software that it makes my head spin. I called in one nasty bug and Apple appeared to have lost the problem. I opened the same problem and went through problem determination again over the phone and this time I seemed to have gotten through as Apple said there were other people complaining about the same issue. I am awaiting a fix. Why is Apple sending out so many bugs now?

Thx, it helped a lot and went smoothly – haven’t ever done such an operation that fast.
For those who doubt anybody would need to downgrade: MY reason was the skipped app management, so I thought I will use the Apple Configurator, but this doesnt work with El Capitan and my (almost aging) MACBOOK 2008 cant be updated any further…

I have 2008 and I’m very happy I can’t update anything anymore because every update is screwing something up especially that terrible itunes up next which is driving me nuts, now who came up with this idiocy I wonder…

I was exited about IOS 11, this kind of ruined that. Among so many advantages of tethering, the ability to revert to an old version of an app that worked. I’ve got 2 apps that I currently don’t update because they latest version breaks things important to me. I know of no way to go back directly on the device. Tired of Apple taking away functionality because they know “what’s best for us”. More and more like the old Microsoft while MS gets more like Apple used to be. Miss Jobs.

I would bet the farm that High Sierra will NOT be compatible with any version of iTunes except this new downgraded one.

I have reached the end of the road with OSX. I will NOT update to iOS11, and I will NOT update to High Sierra, as both are major downgraded IMO that do not at all work in my workflow. I have talked to many other OSX/iOS users who feel the same way, and are looking to other options for a permanent solution. It’s as if Apple is trying to fail it’s loyal users.

Wow! iTunes must have decimated your life. Or maybe it was Apple. That said you are very smart to head on over to Microsoft. And I’m confident that in 20 years we will see you back over on the Apple side. It’s only just a computer. And hardly worth living in black and white.

Way back when El Capitan was offered I read a review that said, “I don’t want my computer behaving like a phone.” Yeah, I thought, and neither do I. I’m still on Mavericks — the most rock solid OS ever and the last Apple OS that actually allows the user to decide what to upgrade and where to get the app.

You wouldn’t believe the trouble I had trying to get Mavericks again when my hard drive fritzed. Just try finding the complete system online. But, I was successful and now have the entire thing on my backup.

Tried this on Windows 10. Downgrade comes back with “iTunes cannot run because some of its required files are missing. Please reinstall iTunes.” Have tried uninstall of all apple programs.

With 4 devices in the house, low data plans and no permanent WiFi, I only update using USB/ADSL. Now to set up Windows 10 wifi hot spot, and do things the clunky, tech backwards way. And it appears I’ll have to stretch it out due to ADSL download cap. Apple needs a centralised localised App update service, so downloads are not quadriplicated (for me). (40 apps at 100Mb, is 4Gb. Now 4 devices all going off and getting updates goes to 16Gb. Not happy.)

If there is a solution, I’ll downgrade 12.6 when it is figured out or move to some “free” centralised update service on my PC.

The reason so many people still using Itunes to download apps, including me
– the stupid restriction made by Apple limiting to 100 (now 150MB) apps when downloading on an iphone
– there are still people in this planet like me and most in my country where it is still cheaper using a fixed line/ethernet connection than mobile

Now I’ve got office apps not updating. The unnecessary constricting policies by apple.

You stated that “In Windows, navigate to where your iTunes Media folder is and open “Previous iTunes Libraries” and make a copy of the most recently dated iTunes Library.itl file in that directory” but what do you do with that file, where do you put it and/or do you have to change its name. What do you do with the copied file? Thanks in advance for your reply.

It wasn’t explained clearly for the Windows install but basically you want to replace the file called iTunes Library.itl in your C:\Users\\Music\iTunes directory with your saved version from the Previous iTunes Libraries directory (renaming it in the process). Do this before you launch the application after the reinstall.

@Daniel
I don’t have that interface up anymore because I downgraded so I can’t tell you exactly how to do it, but I do remember that that was one thing they didn’t take away with the upgrade. You can still copy directly to an application like you used to. It wasn’t hard to find either.

Thanks !!! Worked great.
What and idiocy by Apple – I use it mostly to manage my large image collection with the Photos app synced to iPhone and books, and yes apps too. Live in a country with low bandwidth – much better to download to stuff via fibre to computer. Plus I manage all photos and books on y computer – cloud is a) too slow and b) why would I trust my data to the cloud – too much abuse nott enough privacy c) bandwidth is very expensive and not cost effective.
I feel with the comments about Apple having lost its way – they seem to get worse with every release and constantly are loosing functions.
I wish there were an even better App for managing photos – on the iPad it e.g. does not display the Title and description from EXIF/IPCT as it does on the Mac – but the map view is really great to see nearby photos

Here’s another good reason to upgrade back to the previous version… support for the Apple TVs that have internal hard drives.
I can’t find any reference to it, but Apple removed support for the old hardware.
It was bad enough that I now have to download my apps six times for six phones/pads, this clinches it, time to go back.
These are significant changes, not something that should be in a dot release

Many thanks. Luckily I have a “spare” on my desk – A miniMac which I do keep updated (well, I’m stopping OS updates – It’s on El Capitan) but only use for a few things. I went into shock when I went in to manage where apps were on my iPhone screen which I normally do using iTunes. I did the terminal to remove and reinstalled iTunes 12.6.2 on the miniMac. Everything works now. I preferred having my iPhone always connected to my main iMac, but so be it. I’ll probably leave my iPhone 6s+ at iOS 10, too. And I’ll keep my late 2012 iMac on El Capitan. I’ll wait a couple years and see what happens. By then I may be ready for a new iMac (Or something else the way things are going…). But as it is, everything works including Mucho $$$ in software so I’ll “freeze” and no longer do updates. A Mac person since 1986 and this is beyond disappointing.

What Apple really needs is an application for MacOS with which a person can totally manage their iPhone, make calls, whatever (even run installed apps) in the MacOS application.

Thanks so much for the instructions, I was able to downgrade iTunes 12.7 back to 12.6.2. I was silly enough to update without looking at the new changes and was so upset when they got rid of the ringtone management tab. I completely loved my custom ringtones but lost them when I upgraded my iphone 6 plus to ios 11 and then downgraded back to ios 10.

Don’t know what the fuss is with apple these days… If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!!! My iPhone 6 plus will remain on ios 10 as well, it had serious lagging issues on ios 11.

I haveIn iTunes Preferences unselected the automatic check for updates in iTunes Preferences and have not run Updates in the App Store. No idea how it is happening but I am stuck with the worthless 12.7 once again.

Has anyone else had this problem or do you have a selection?

I used the App features in 12.6 and the App store is a VERY poor substitute. The phone is used for work and I haven’t listened to music or movies on it for years, in my opinion, there are better ways. As it is, 12.7 is a waste of memory and I would delete if possible, but the ALL KNOWING in Apple don’t allow that! Dating myself, my first Mac was a 512 but I am strongly considering changing that on my next purchase.

Thank you, you have saved me from a great shock that ruined my morning.

I am, despite the rescue, still massively angry at the stupidity of this move. Apple apparently believes that everyone can just download apps that might be as large as gigabyte, and will never want to keep older versions of apps.

It’s hard to avoid the feeling that the aim is to prevent individuals from owning or possessing anything. Next they’ll take away the ability to save and keep podcast episodes on my computer (an ability I was specifically praising only a few days ago), then they’ll decide that streaming Apple Music is the only music option.

I followed the instructions and when opening the downgrade, it says a newer version is already installed and quits. I have tried the Terminal instructions twice just in case and still get the same response. Any idea what I can do?

Thank you so much! This just saved our school district’s after school iPad program. There was no way I could hand download and manage 5-20 apps on 80 iPads every five weeks. I use Apple Configurator 2 to change apps every month on 10 iPads at a time but without a functional iTunes app element I would never be able to keep apps updated, remove, or add new ones every month like I do. Truly saved the quality of our programming!

Why on earth does Apple think people only want wifi/data based single app management ability? Not everyone has access or one device. I cannot understand the reasoning behind removing the app store from iTunes entirely.

First, TURN OFF auto updates. I went through all this – synced my files, etc … woke up the next morning and iTunes 12.7 was re-installed.

Second, Time Machne will NOT downgrade iTunes. I had backed up and when I tried it said it was part of the OS and couldn’t be changed – not even an option for a password override. Thank goodness your directions are relatively simple.

I’ve spent countless hours over the phone with Apple Level 2 support (a very decicated support guy embarassed by the absence of warning from Apple) trying to fix my old 2009 Mac mini, my 1st Gen (Silver) Apple TV (where I keep all my picture, music and videos for the last 5 years) and, my 3TB WD MyCloud (TimeMachine Backup) that all ceased to work fine after updating to El Capitan and iTunes 12.7.

By going back to iTunes 12.6.3 I’ve regained access to my Apple TV but my WD MyCloud is no longer supported under El Capitan… 3 years of daily back-up gone without notice!

I finally tired of not being able to manage apps (even after trying Configurator). But since I ran 12.7 or a few months, naturally all of my play counts are goofed up. Do I just live with it as lesson learned? Or can I get them back?

If it says “not permitted” you did not execute the command with root privileges or you made a typo, or maybe because you did not follow the instructions, here is how you can delete iTunes 12.7 to downgrade to iTunes 12.6

Followed the instructions for Mac, but after downloading iTunes 12.6 and clicking, the installer just hangs there with a window that says “Varifying Install Itunes” and it’s done nothing for an hour, not even the verify bar has moved. WHere do I go from here?

This syntax works great, but you must disable the System Integrity Protection (SIP) prior to making this work with Mac OS High Sierra. On reboot, hold CMD + R, go to Utilities, open Terminal, and type csrutil then reboot your machine.

Apple has a very simple process to do this. You don’t need Terminal or any of that other hocus-pocus.
You just have to copy a backup of “iTunes Library yyyy-mm-dd” made from 10.6 to overwrite (and renaming it to) the default “iTunes Library.itl”

I work in a school and this update is a disaster for App Management. Working from a Mac for central deployment using Apple Configurator 2 you can no longer browse for iPad only apps using iTunes or the App Store.

I have recently been through this. The problem is with the latest iTunes. I followed the instructions as to how to revert to iTunes 12.6.3. Then I backed up my iPhone 6 as normal. Once done, I then connected iPhone x and tried restore from backup. I received the message that iTunes 12.6.3 was not compatible with the new iPhone so I merely re-downloaded the latest version 12.8 and tried restore again. Worked perfectly without fiddling with any terminals or complex stuff Nobody at Apple was able to explain this but it is that simple.

That worked perfectly. (macbook pro late 2011, OSX El Capitan 10.11.6)
Apparently a iOS 11 device needed iTunes 12.8 to install ios 12, but after that i couldn’t sync anymore the iOS 12 device and a pop-up message asks you to upgrade to the newest OSX, which “officially” is not supported by my macbook…
So i wanted to go back to iTunes 12.6 and reboot the device with an iOS 11 backup. And surprise, the iOS 12 device syncs with iTunes 12.6 like before, the same message pops up every time but at least it works again…

It looks like this is no longer possible. I’ve tried a few ways to uninstall iTunes including removing protection of Apple apps, but now with Mac OS Mojave, iTunes is integrated with OSX and nothing will remove it (even if you move it to trash and delete all associated files) and you can’t restore it. I’ve told Apple I have for a long time used Google and Amazon for entertainment products, I won’t even consider the Apple Music free trial now.